Unauthorised peaceful demonstrations will not be sanctioned by local authorities

Chisinau Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca asked the Municipal Police Office not to hinder the organisation of peaceful demonstrations in case they are not authorised by the local authorities. According to the Mayor, the policemen should only observe the situation because the peaceful demonstrations are a part of the fundamental human rights and freedoms. Chirtoaca brought the example of an NGO without mentioning its name, which did not obtain an authorisation in due time although it submitted the authorisation request at the City Hall and the police used the force to stop the demonstration. Another request of the Mayor to the Municipal Police was to increase the actions related to unblocking the main streets of the city from the cars parked on the sidewalks. According to Chirtoaca, in summer, the Police should place road inspectors, as in the case of the official delegations, at a reasonable distance on the streets in order to prevent the parking of vehicles. He says that the problem will not be solved by means of fines. The mayor asked the policemen “to undertake concrete measures in this respect, because the road traffic during summer is a serious problem, and endangers the health of the citizens”. The head of Public Order Department within the Municipal Police Office, Iurie Crijanovschi told the session of the City Hall on Monday, July 23 that the request was anticipated and a higher number of policemen were placed on the Streets in order to optimise the road traffic.